French July wheat exports outside EU hit four-year high

France, the European Union’s biggest wheat exporter, shipped 683,513 tonnes of soft wheat outside the EU in July, up 58 percent compared with July last year and the biggest July volume since 2011, customs data showed on Tuesday. The wheat exports in July, the first month of the marketing year, were led by 428,670 tonnes shipped to Algeria, also a four-year high and a sharp rebound from just 47,250 tonnes in the same month last year.

Wheat exports were boosted this year by rapid harvesting in dry, hot weather, after heavy rain disrupted last year’s crop. But traders say activity slowed sharply in August as France faced stiff competition from other wheat export origins. In barley, France exported 702,464 tonnes outside the EU in July, up 57 percent on the same month last year and the biggest volume for July since at least 2000, the data showed. The barley exports continued to be dominated by sales to China, with 699,470 tonnes shipped to the Asian country in July.